Parthenoni

The Parthenon is an ancient Greek temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the goddess Athena, the patron deity of Athens. Construction began in 447 BC and was completed in 438 BC. It is considered a symbol of Ancient Greece and Athenian democracy and is regarded as one of the world's greatest cultural monuments.

The Parthenon was built by the Athenian statesman Pericles as part of a grand building program. It was designed by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates and the sculptor Phidias was in charge of the sculptural program. The temple is doric in order and is composed of marble. It originally housed a colossal chryselephantine statue of Athena Parthenos.

The Parthenon has had a long and varied history. It has been used as a church, a mosque, and a treasury. It was severely damaged by an explosion in 1687 during the Ottoman-Venetian War when gunpowder stored in the building detonated. Much of the surviving sculpture is now in the British Museum in London, though some remains in Athens.

Restoration work on the Parthenon has been ongoing for many years, aiming to preserve this iconic structure for future generations. Its architectural innovations and artistic achievements have had a profound influence on Western art and architecture.